Martin GriffEast Windsor School Superintendent Dr. David L. Witmer speaks to the press about a drug bust at Hightstown High School on Friday, May 11, 2001. Seated from left are Hightstown Police Chief James Eufemia, Mercer Co. Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto and Mercer Caption Don Ricigliano of the Prosecutor's office.

HIGHTSTOWN — The borough council approved the retirement of Police Chief James Eufemia Monday under an agreement hammered out in closed sessions between the council and “a special labor counsel for police matters” hired in the wake of rising tensions between the department and council.

Eufemia, 55, will retire Sept. 1 following 30 years with the department, where he worked his way up through the ranks and served as chief for the past ten years.

At this week’s meeting, little was said about why Eufemia had chosen now to leave the borough.

However, Council President Isabel McGinty cast the sole vote against a resolution to issue a press release acknowledging Eufemia’s “dedication and loyalty” to the borough.

Over the past several months the council battled with the police department for access to records on overtime payments and officers facing disciplinary actions, and McGinty publicly questioned the legality of Eufemia’s plan to supplement police operations with part-time officers.

In remarks Monday, McGinty said she will not back down from asking probing questions about police operations, saying she was not doing so “just for the purpose of being a pain in the neck.”

In April, the council hired New Brunswick law firm Benedict and Altman to address “police issues” and gave it subpoena power to obtain documents from the police department.

In late January, a report issued by the New Jersey State Police suggested Hightstown was one of the most gang-infested towns in the state, quoting information from Hightstown’s own force stating that 23 gangs and 119 gang members operated in the borough.

Hightstown officials were incredulous, but Eufemia explained that his department’s estimates of gang activity were largely based on gang members believed to be passing through on nearby highways.

The severance agreement, approved 5-1, with McGinty dissenting, gives Eufemia a 5 percent raise retroactive to Jan. 1; it includes the payment of up to 17 months time in the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, and establishes ten years of annual payments of $5,000 to the chief.

This week, council members and residents in the audience wished Eufemia good luck and a nice vacation. They thanked him for his service to the community.

Mayor Steve Kirson said, “Thirty years is a long stretch in any job. Enjoy that cruise next week.”